Zinc smelter retort charging machine



Jan. 20, 1942. T. R. MoRRlsoN ZINC SMELTER RETORT CHARGING MACHINE Filed June 1o, i940 '7 Sheets-Sheet l ,m Jan. 20, 1942. I .1'. R. MORRISON 2,270,381.

ZINC SMELTER RETORT CHARGING MACHINE Filed June 10,'1940 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 A Jan.'20, 1942. T. R. MORRISON ZINC SMELTER-RETORT CHARGING MACHINE Filed June lO, 1940 '7 SheetS-SEheet 4 M y MM R f M,

Jan. 20, 1942. T. R. MORRISON l ZINC SMELTER RETORT GHARGING MACHINE Filed June l0, 1940` Mm. bmw

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-zINc `SMELTER nEToRT GHARGING'MAGHINE Filed June 10,' 1940 7 sheets-sheet e TR. /l//afm /50/1/ @3M @KM Jan. 20, 1942.

T. R. MORRISON 2,270,381 ZINC SMELTER RETRT CHARGING'MACHINE Filed June 10, 1940 7 Sheeis-Sheet 7 0 /55 fk A l/ ,A Ziel/y sin? TRA/@REASON Patented Jan. 20, 1942 'OFFICE l ZINC SMELTEIRI RETORT CHARGING MACHINE Thomas Richard Morrison, Blackwell, Okla.y Application June 1o, 1940, serial No. 339,805

14 Claims.

This invention relates to zinc smelter retort charging devices. t V An object of this invention is to provide a retort charging device for charging a bank of retorts in a single operation.

Anotherobject of this invention -is to"pro` vide a retort charging apparatus whereby any one or more of a bank of retorts may be charged in one operation.

A further object of this invention is to provide an apparatus of this character whereby the loose material may be discharged into a retort and simultaneously the material may be packed into the retort so that the density of the material will be the same throughout the length of the retort. f v

A still further object of this invention is to p-rovide an ap-paratus of this kind including an improved means for feeding the loose material to the combined chargers and packers. v A further object of thisl invention is to provide an apparatus of this kind in which selected ones of the chargers may be operated and the remaining chargers may be rendered inoperative.-

A further object of this invention `is to provide an apparatus of this kind including an improved means for regulating the packing of the material in the retorts, the regulating means being so constructed that the operator of the machine may obtain the desired packing of the material throughout the lengthof a retort.

A further object of this invention is to provide a machine of this kind in which the material conveyor alsoconstitutes a packing element so that the loose material may be simultaneously discharged into and packed within the retort, thus eliminating thev necessity of iirst discharging the material in a retort and subsequently packing the material by a separate tool. Where the materialis iirst discharged into the retort and subsequently packed, the density of th packed material is Anot uniform throughout the retort with the result that the capacity of the retort is therebyreduced. By providing a machine which simultaneously discharges and packs the materiakthe retort can be filled to its full capacity.

To the foregoing objects and to others which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more specifically referred to and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein are shown embodiments of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a detail side elevation of a zinc smelter retort charging machine constructed according to an embodiment of this invention.

Figure 2 is a detail side elevation of the machine on the side thereof and opposite from that shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail rear elevation of the machine.

Figure 4 is a detail front elevation of the machine partly broken away and in section.

` Figure 5 is a vertical section taken longitudinally through the machine.

Figure is a sectional View taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a sectional View taken on the'line I-l of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a sectional View taken on the line 9--9 of Figure 6. i

Fgurei 10I is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line Ill- I0 of Figure 3.

Figure 11 is a sectional view II-II of Figure 4. 1

`Figure 12 is a fragmentary sectional view of a charging member disposed in a retort.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral I5 designates generally a mobile frame which is adapted to be positioned in front of the open ends of a bank of retorts generally designated'as I6. There are a plurality of superposed retorts I6 which are of cylindrical configuration and these retorts I6 are secured at their outer ends to a supporting structure II.

The frame `I5 comprises a pair of horizontal beams I8 which are disposed in spaced apart parallel relation and which may be formed from I beams. The beams I8 are secured to the undersides of a pair of transversely disposed lower I beams or frame members I9 and a pair of front upright frame members 20 are secured at their lower ends to the beams- I9 and extend upwardly therefrom in spaced apart parallel relation. A pair of rear `upright beam frame members 2| are secured at their lower ends to the transverse beam members I9 and the upper ends of the rear frame members 2| are connected together by means of an upper connecting bar The front uprights 20 are connected together at their upper ends by a connecting frame member 23. The lower beam members I8 have setaken on the line cured to one end thereof a pair of bearings 24 through which an axle 25 is journalled. A pair of flanged wheels 26 are secured to the axle 25 and these wheels 26 engage rails 21 which may be xed in any suitable manner to the floor or other supporting means in front of the retorts I6. The opposite ends of the beams I8 have secured thereto a pair of bearings 28 and an axle 29 is journalled in the bearings 28.

A pair of flanged wheels 36 are secured to the axle 29 and engage the rails 21. The frame I5 at its upper end has a pair of V-shaped rails 3| secured thereto which extend in parallel relation to the lower beam members I9 and which are connected to the front uprights 28 and the rear uprights 2|. A carriage generally designated as 32 is movably disposed within the frame structure I5 and comprises a pair of rear vertical body or frame members 33 which are disposed in spaced apart parallel relation and a pair of front vertical body or frame members 34 which are parallel with the rear frame members 33. The members 33, 34 are of bar-like form. The frame members or bars 33 and 36 are secured at their upper ends to a trolley member 35 which has a plurality of wheels or rollers 36 engageable with the rails 3|.

The rollers or 'wheels 36 are provided with V- shaped peripheral grooves engageable with the rails 3| so that the carriage 32 may be moved I lengthwise of the stationary frame structurev I5. The carriage 32 is moved toward or from the retort I6 by means of a flexible drive member 31 in the form of a chain. The chain or flexible member 31 has one end thereof secured as at 38 f sprocket 43 which is fixed to a drive shaft 44.

The shaft 44 is journaled in a pair of bearings 45 which are carried by a pair of intermediatev uprights 46. The intermediate uprights 46 are secured between the rails 3| and the lower beams I9 rearwardly of the front uprights 26. A second flexible carriage operating member 41 has one end thereof secured as at 48 to the rear carriage members 33 and the opposite end thereof secured as at 49 to the front carriage members 34 at a point below the coupling or fastening members 39. The chain or operating member 41 isA trained over a rear sprocket 50 which is carried by a sprocket shaft 5| journalled in bearings 52 which are xed to the rear uprightsl 2| below the bearings 42. The flexible member 41 is also trained over a front sprocket 53 which is fixed to a shaft 54 journalled in bearings 55. The bearings 55 are xed tothe intermediate uprights 46 at a point below the bearings 45. The upper sprocket shaft 44 also has fixed thereto a sprocket 56 about which a chain 51 engages. The chain 51 is an endless chain and is trained about a sprocket 58 which is xed to the lower sprocket shaft 56. this manner rotation of the upper sprocket shaft 44 will simultaneously rotate the lower sprocket shaft 54.

A relatively large sprocket 59 is xedto one end of the upper sprocket shaft 46 at one side of the frame I5 and an endless chain 66 is trained about the sprocket 59. The chain 60 -is also trained about a sprocket 6| which is carried by a drive shaftV 62. The drive shaft 62 is journalled to the lower beam members I9.

in bearings 63 and 64 which are carried by the front uprights 26 and by a laterally disposed support 65 which is supported laterally of the frame I5 by means of a horizontal and laterally extending support 66. A driven sprocket 61 is fixed to the shaft 62 and a chain 69 is trained about the sprocket 61. The chain 63 is also trained about a driving sprocket 69 carried by a motor shaft 16. The motor shaft 16 is operated by means of a motor 1I which is mounted on a pair of supporting members 12 which are fixed to the lower beam members I8 and to the lower Vbeam members I9.

A clutch 13 is connected to the sprocket 6I and is rotatable on the shaft 62. The clutch element 13 is adapted to be coupled with the shaft 62 by means of a clutch element 14 which is splined on the shaft 62 and is slidable lengthwise thereof. lThe clutch element 14 is substantially conical in configuration and is provided with a peripheral groove 15 within which a pair of clutch operating fingers 16 engage. The clutch element 14 is adapted to engage clutch fingers 11 for rocking these fingers and thereby coupling the clutch element 13 with the clutch element 14. The clutch element 14 is moved to a clutching or declutching position by means of a clutching lever 18 which extends rearwardly from the shaft 62 in a direction of the rear frame members 2| and at one side of the carriage 32.

The clutch element 13 has secured thereto a brake drum 19 which is substantially larger in diameter than the clutch element 13 and a brake shoe 88 is pivotally carried at one end on a pivot member 8| carried by an upright 46 and is adapted to be moved to a drum engaging position by means of a bell crank 82 which is pivotally supported from a supporting member 83 carried by a rear intermediate upright 84. The upright 84 is fixed relative to the frame I5 at one side of the carriage 32 and the bell crank 82 is connected to the brake shoe 86 by means of a link 85. The brake drum 19 and the brake shoe provide a means whereby the rearward movement of the carriage 32 during the changing of the retorts I6 may be frictionally retarded so that the material being discharged into the retorts I6 will be packed simultaneous with the discharge of the material therein.

A plurality of tubular or cylindrical charging members 86 are disposed in superposed parallel relation within the frame I5 and the charging members 86 at their forward ends loosely engage on peripherally grooved rollers 81 which are carried by shafts 88. The shafts 88 are secured at their opposite ends to a vertically movable frame structure including a pair of upright parallel members 89 which are slidable between the forward frame members 20. There is a roller 81 for each charging member 86 and in order to provide a means whereby the charging members 86 may be adjusted to a position in axial alignment with the retorts I6. I have provided a rock shaft 96 which is rockably carried by bearings 9| fixed A pair of forwardly extending arms 92 are fixed to the shaft 90 and a pair of links 93 are connected at one end thereof to the forward ends of the arms 92 and at the opposite ends thereof are connected to the lowermost roller shaft 88. A lever 94 is fixed to one end of the rock shaft 96 and the lever 94 at its upper end is secured to the forward end of av link 95. Preferably the link 95 is provided with a plurality of spaced apart holes 66 in one of which the pivotal coupling member 2,270,381 is adapted to engage.' The rear end of the link The charging housing members 86 are each pivotally secured at their rear ends to a shaft |04 which is carried by bearing members |05 fixed to the carriage member 34. The shaft |04 is disposed in a horizontal'position so that the tubular charging members 86 may be vertically rocked with vertical movement or shifting of the roller carriage 89. i A

Each charging Ymember 86 has rotatably mounted "therein a` screw conveyor |06 which terminates at'- its forward end substantially flush with the forward end of thecharging member 86. The rear end of the conveyor |06 is rotatably carried by a bearing member or rear wall |01 and the shaft of the conveyor |06 at its rear end is provided with one element |08 of a toothed clutch by means of which the conveyor |06 'may be selectably connected to adriving means as will be hereinafter described.

A conveyor operating motor |09 'is mounted on the motor carriage 35 and the shaft ||0 of the motor |09 has a driving gear I fixed thereto. A counter-shaft I I2 is journalled in bearings ||3` which are'xed to the carriagel 35 and a ings I and I2| which are carried by the car- "riage members 33 and 34. A stubshaft |22 is `connected to the sprocket shaft ||9 by means of a universal coupling or joint |23 and the stub shaft |22 has splined thereon a second element |24 of a conveyor clutch which is adapted to be selectively engaged with the clutch element |08.

IA clutch operating lever |25 is rockably carried by a bearing |26 which is fixed to an extension |21 formed as part of a charging member 86. The universal coupling or joint |23 is `disposed substantially in axial alignment with the pivotal member |04 for a retort' charging member 86. In this manner the retort charging member 86 with its conveyor |06 may be vertically adjusted at'its forward end and at the same time the conveyor |06 may be rotated `through the chain connections from the motor Each tubular conveyor housing or charging member 86 adjacent the rear thereof is provided with an intake housing |21 which communicates withthe rear end of the conveyor |06. The intake housing |21 extends laterally and upwardly lfrom a conveyor housing member 86 and is provided at its outer end'with an enlarged collar or coupling member |28. A plurality of conveyor feeding screws |29, |30, |3I and |32 are rotatably carried by a vertically disposed housing generally designated as |33. The h'ousing |33 is formed with an inner wall |34, an outer wall |35 and front and rear walls |36 and |31,

respectively. The feeding screw |29 is disposed in a substantially semi-cylindrical trough |38 which is disposed in a horizontal position and is fixed to the twowalls |34 and' I 35. A hopper |39 is disposed at the upper end of the housing |34 and the loose materialis adapted to be discharged, as will be hereinafter described, into the hopper |39 and then gravitatingly move downwardly in the housing y|33.

The screw |30 is rotatable in a horizontally disposed semi-cylindrical` trough |40 which is fixed to the walls |34 and |35 and the screw |3| is rotatable in a semi-cylindrical trough I4| disposed in a horizontal position and fixed to the two walls |34 and |35 below the trough |40. The lower screw member |32 is rotatable in a substantially semi-cylindrical trough |42 and preferably a pair of downwardly convergent walls y or plates |43 are secured to the upper edges 0f the trough I 42 and are also secured to the front and rear walls |36 and |31, respectively.

The feeding screw |29 hasv secured inv axial alignment therewitha screw shaft |44 which is journalled through the outer wall |35 and is alsov journalled in a plate |45 which is' supported in laterally spaced relation to the outer wall |35 by means of a plurality of brackets or supporting members |46. The screw shaft |44 has splined thereon a gear |41 formed with a grooved hub |48 and a fork or gear shifting member |49 engages in the grooved hub |48 and is vprovided with a right angular extension |50 which is slidable through the plate |45. The operator or extension |50 is formed witha pair of notches |5| and alocking lever |52 is pivotally mounted on aV shaft |53 carried bythe `plate |45. The

, locking lever |52` is adapted to engage in a selected notch |5I so asto hol-d the gear operator vor shifter |49 in either operative or inoperative position. Th'e shaft |44 is rotated by means of |41 and the shaft |54 `is rotated by means of a sprocket |56 which is xed to the shaft |54.

A counter-shaft |51 is rotatably carried Vby the carriage 35 and the shaft |51 has a sprocket |58 fixed thereto. An endless chain |59 is trained over the two sprockets |56 and |58.'4 The shaft |51 has a bevelled gear |6| at the end thereof opposite from the sprocket `|58 and the gear |6|`meshes with a bevelled gear |62 carried by a right angularly disposed shaft |63. The shaft |63 has a gear |64 fixed thereto which is rotated by means of a chain |65. The countershaft ||2 has a gear |66 fixed thereto about which the chain |65V is trained. Preferably the lower run of th'e chain |65 engages over an .idler sprocket `|61 which is carried by the carriage 35.

The shaft |54 also has a second sprocket |68 fixed thereto and a chain |69 engages over the sprocket. |68 and extends downwardly therefrom, being trained over a sprocket |10 which is fixed to a shaft |1I. 'Ihe shaft .|1I is provi-ded with a gear member similar to that shown in Figure 1 which' is adapted :to selectively mesh with a clutching gear |12 which is slidable on a screw shaft |13 disposed in axial alignment with the screw |30. The gear |1| is moved to an operative or inoperative position by means of an operating lever |14 similar to the operator |49. The operator |14 is adapted to be locked in either operatve or inoperative position by means of a lockinglever |15. The Vshaft 11| also has a second sprocket llfxed thereto about which a chain `|11 is trained. The chainv |11 is also trained about a sprocket |18 carried by a shaft |19. The shaft 119 is adapted to be coupled to the screwshaft |80 which is fixed to or integral with the screw 13|. The screw 131 is coupled to the shaft `|19 'bymeans of a clutch gear 18| operated by means of. a clutch operator |82. The operator |82 .is held in either operative or inoperative position by means of a locking member |83 which is pivoted to the plate |45. The shaft |41 has xed thereto a second sprocket |84 about which a chain |85 engages, the chain |85 also engaging about a gear |86 which is fixed to a lower shaft-|81. The lower shaft |81 yis adapted to be coupled to the screw shaft |88 which is integral with.v the screw member 132.

A clutch' gear |89 is slidable on the shaft 188 and is moved to an operative or inoperative position by means of a gear operator |90. The op erator |90 Ais adapted to be held in a selected position by means of a locking lever 19|. By means of the chains |69, 111 and |85 the feeding screws |29, |30, 13| and |32 may be selectively operated as a unit or if desired, certain ones of the feeding screws may be declutched or uncoupled from the driving mechanism.

The housing |33 is adapted to move with tlir,

carriage 32-35 and preferably the housing 13e c is provided with a pair of rollers or wheels |92 which engage a track or rail |93 disposed in parallel relation with the'frame 15. The track |93 is xedly secured to the beam members 18.

The loose material is discharged to the hopper t posed in the elevator housingV |95, the conveyor or elevator |96 being of the bucket type and the elevator housing |95 at its lower end has secured thereto a hopper |91 which communicates with the lower end of the housing |95 so that the material may be elevated in the housing |95 and then discharged into the trough or chute |94. The elevator 1,96 is operated from a chain |98 which is trained about a driving sprocket |99. The chain 198 is also trained about a sprocket 200 connected to the lower end of the elevator 1.96.

The sprocket |99 is carried by a countershaft 2 $11 having a bevelled gear 202 fixed thereon and the gear 202 meshes with a bevelled gear 203 carried by a sprocket shaft 204. The shaft 204 is carried by bearings 205 fixed to the adjacent side of the elevator housing |95 and a chain 206 engages about a sprocket 201 which is fixed to the shaft 204. The chain 296 also engages about a sprocket 208 which is loose on the shaft 62. One part 209 of a toothed clutch is carried by the sprocket 209: and this clutch element 209 is adapted to engage a second clutch element 219 which is splined on the shaft 62. A thrust collar 21| is fixed to the shaft 62v and bears at. onev side against the hub of the sprocket 208.

A clutch operating fork 212 engages the clutch elementl 210 and the fork 212 is operated by means of` any elongated clutohoperating .mem- 75 aa'rosi ber 2|3 extending toward the rear of the frame 1'5 and terminating in a bell crank 214.

The frame structure 15 may be shifted relative to the retort structure 16 by means of a hand wheel 215 which is fixed to a shaft 216. The shaft 216 is journalled in a bearing 211 carried by the upright 84 and a sprocket 218 is fixed to the shaft 216. A chain 219 engages over the sprocket 218 and also engages over a sprocket 220 which is fixed to the axle 25.

The shaft |19 has a second sprocket 22| fixed thereto about which a chain 222 engages. The chain 222 also engages about a sprocket 223 which is fixed to the next succeeding shaft |19a and the shaft I9a has a sprocket 224 fixed thereto about which a chain 225 engages. The chain 225 extends downwardly from the sprocket 224 and is trained over a sprocket 226 carried by a shaft |191. The shaft |19b also has a second sprocket 221 xed thereto and about which a chain 228 is trained. The chain 228 also is trained about a sprocket 229 carried by a lower shaft |19c so that when all of the charging conveyors |06 are coupled together, they will operate in unison. It will also be understood that the shaft |199, |19b and |19c are connected to their associated charging members |06 by means of a universal joint and a toothed clutch similar to the clutch elements |08 and |24.

In the use and operation of this retort charging machine, the machine is shifted to a position confronting the retort members 16 by rotating the hand wheel 215 so as to thereby shift the entire machine on the rails or tracks 21. When the charging members 86 are in a confronting position relative to the retort; members 16, the motor 11 may be operated so as to move the carriage 32 forwardly relative to the frame 15. The forward movement of the carriage 32 will move the tubular members 86 into the retort members 16 and when the tubular members 86 are in an extended position telescoping within the retort members 16, the hopper 139 will be disposed in a receiving position beneath the chute or trough |94. The movement' of the carriage 32 is effected by clutching the clutch element 13 through the clutch element 94 to the shaft62.

This will cause the chain 60 to rotate the shaft 44 and pull the lower runs of the chains 31 and 41 forwardly. When the` charging members are in an extended or telescoped position within the retort I6, the clutch element 2|0 may be shifted to a clutching position so as to couple the conveyor |96 with the driving shaft 62. After the housing |33 and the hopper |39 have been filled, the clutch element 210 may be shifted by means of the operator 213 and the crank 214 to a declutched position. At this time the motor |09 may be operated so as to rotate the feeding screws |29, |30, |31 and |32 and thereby feed the material to the charging members 66. The charging conveyors or screws 106 may be r0- tated simultaneously with the rotation of the feeding screws in the hopper housing |33 and if desired all of the charging screws or conveyors |06 may be operated or selected ones of the charging screws |06 may be declutched by shifting the associated clutching lever |25. It will also be understood that where one or more of the charging screws |06 are declutched, the associating *feeding` screw may also be rendered inoperative by shifting the associated clutching gear.

Asthermaterial is discharged or forced into the inner ends of the retort members I6, the pressure of the discharged material will progressively force the charging members 86 and the charging screws |06 outwardly of the retort members I6. The discharged material at the forward ends of the charging screws I 06 may be rmly packed within the retort members I6 by rocking the brake lever or bell crank 82 so as to shift the brake shoe 88 into engagement with the brake drum 19. As the rearward movement of the `charging members 86 and the charging screws I 06 will cause rotation of the shaft 44 by pull from the chain 3'I, the rearward movement of the carriage with the charging tubes 86 may be retarded by engagement of the brake 80 with the brake drum 19. 'Ihis will cause the discharged material to progressively be packed within the retort members I6.

With a construction of this kind, the density of the discharged material will be uniform through the length of the retort members I6 and will eliminate the necessity of using a plunger or other tool in order to pack the loose material in the retort member I6. n I-Ieretofore, the material has been packed by shifting the charging machine laterally of the retort members and then forcing a plunger or other packing member into the forward ends of the retort members I6. However, this procedure did not produce a uniform density or packing of the material as the material in the far ends of the retort members would usually be fairly loose and thus the retort members would not be packed to their full capacity.

While the charging members 86 have been shown in substantially horizontal position, it will be understood that where the retorts I6 are inclined to the horizontalthe charging members 86 may be supported on a similar inclinationso that the charging members 86v will move axially of the retorts I6.

In order to provide a means whereby a tunnel or gas passage may be provided in the packed material within the retort I6, I have provided a tunnel forming member 230 which is preferably round in transverse section. The tunnel or passage forming member 230 is pivotally connected to a link 23Iwhich is swingably mounted between a pair of ears 232 carried by the forward endsof the charging tubes 86. The link V23I provides a means whereby the tunnel forming member 230 is adapted to dependdiametrically across the openend of a charging tube 86 when the charging machine is disengaged from the retort structure.

At the time the charging tubes 86 are extended into the retorts I6, the tunnel forming members 230 will be disposed diametrically across the ends of the charging tubes 86. As the material is forced out of the charging tubes 86 by the conveyors |86, the tunnel forming members 230 will be swung upwardly to the position shown in Figure 12 so that when the charging tubes 86 move outwardly during the packing of the material, the tunnel forming member 230 will be drawn outwardly with vthe charging tubes and will thus form a gas passage 233 in the material so that the gases arising from the'heating or melting of the material may be discharged through the outer open ends of the retorts I6. In this manner the retorts I6 will not be damaged by the accumulation of gases in the rear ends thereof and in addition the melting of the ore will not be affected by the gases and the ore will be able to more evenly melt throughout the length of each retort than is the case where the ore is packed tightly within the retort without the provision ofthe tunnel for the escape of the gases.

What I claim is:

1. A retort charging machine comprising a frame, a carriage having a part depending into said frame, means for slidably supporting said carriage from the top of said frame, a plurality of charging members within the frame, bodily moving with the carriage and pivotally supported at one end thereof from said part, vertically adjustable rotatable means carried by said frame for movably supporting the other ends of said members, shifting means for the carriage, a retort charging screw rotatable in each member, operating means for said screws mounted on said carriage, and means correlating with the shifting means for the carriage for resisting movement of said Vcarriage during the charging operation whereby to pack the discharged material in the retorts simultaneously with the discharge of the material into the retorts.

2. A retort charging machine comprising a frame, a plurality of retort charging members movably carried by said fame, opeating means for said members, and manually controlled means correlatingwith said operating means for resisting endwise movement of said members relative to the frame and the retort during the charging operation to thereby uniformly pack the A material in the retort.

3. A retort charging machine comprising a mobile frame, a carriage supported from and movable relative to and having a portion depending into the frame, operating means for moving said carriage in one direction and being connected to said part at spaced points to the latter, a plurality of retort charging members movable with said carriage connected to said part and formed with intakes, laterally disposedfeeding means for said members bodily moving with the carriage and common to said intakes, and means carried by said frame for discharging material to said feeding means when said members are in charging position.

4. A retort charging machine comprising a mobile frame, a carriage supported from and movable relative to and having a portion depending into the frame, operating means for moving said carriage in one direction and being connected to said part at spaced points to the latter, a plurality of retortcharging members movable with said carriage connected to said part and formed with intakes, means movable with said carriage for feeding material to said intakes, and

manually controlling means correlating with the means for moving the carriage for holding said carriage `against movement in the opposite direction to thereby uniformly pack the materiall in thelretorts simultaneous with the discharge of the material.

5. In a retort charging machine, a plurality of charging'members projectable into a retort structure, said charging members including tubular Ahousings and rotatable conveyors: supported within the housings and bodily moving with the latter, means for projecting said members into the retort structure, means for rotating said conveyors to thereby discharge the material into the retort structure while simultaneously moving said members outwardly of the retort structure, and manually controlled'means correlating with the means for projecting said members for holding said members against outward movement to thereby pack the material in the retort'structure.

6. In a retort charging machine, an endwise movable charging device including charging elements and operating means for said elements, declutchable operating means for moving said device to a charging position interiorly of a retort structure, and braking means correlating with said declutchable operating means for resisting movement of said device outwardly of the retort structure to thereby pack the material in the retort structure.

7. A retort charging machine comprising a frame, a carriage movably carried by said frame, a plurality of charging members pivotally connected to and bodily movable with said carriage, a guide means for said members, means within the frame for vertically adjusting said guide means relative to said frame, means movable with said carriage communicating with and common to said members for feeding material to the latter, and means carried by the frame for supplying the material to said feeding means.

8. A retort charging machine comprising a frame, a carriage movably carried by said frame, a plurality of charging members connected at one end thereof to said carriage, a vertically movable charging member guide means carried by said frame and supporting the opposite ends of said members, means for vertically adjusting said guide means, a carriage operating shaft, flexible means operatively connecting said carriage with said shaft, a combined clutch and braking means carried by said shaft, and a manually operable controlling lever for said braking means, said braking means retarding the endwise movement of said charging members during the charging operation to thereby pack the material in the retorts.

9. A retort charging machine comprising a plug rality of tubular members, a helical charging screw in each member, means supporting said members for endwise movement, operating means for moving said members endwise to an extended discharging position telescoping into a retort structure, means for selectively rotating said screws, means for feeding material to said members for discharge by said screws, and means correlating with said operating means retarding the endwise movement of said members to a retracted position to thereby progressively pack the material in the retort structure during the discharge of the material.

l0. A retort charging machine comprising a plurality of tubular members pivotally supported l at one end, a helical charging screw in each member, vertically adjustable means supporting said members for endwise movement, operating means for moving said members endwise to an extended discharging position, means for rotating said screws, said members in proximity to their pivoted ends being provided with intakes, means communicating with said intakes for feeding material to said members for discharge by said screws, operating means for said feeding means, means selectively coupling saidV feeding means with said latter operating means, and means correlating with said operating means for moving said members for retarding the endwise movement of said members to a retracted position to thereby progressively pack the material in a retort structure.

1l. In a retort chargingl machine of that type including a plurality of retort charging members having intakes, the combination of a feeder housing for said members, a hopper carried by said housing, superposed conducting means leading from said housing to said intakes, a plurality of semi-cylindrical troughs carried by said housing in superposed relation and aligned with said conducting means, a feeding screw rotatable in each trough, and declutchable operating means for said screws.

l2. A retort charging machine comprising a frame, a carriage supported from the frame, a plurality of retort charging members bodily carried yby said carriage, shifting means for said carriage, operating means for said members, means correlating with said sluiting means for resisting endwise movement of said members relative to the frame and the retort during the charging operation to thereby uniformly pack the material in the retort, and normally inactive shiftable means carried by each charging member and automatically shifted by the charge to active position for forming a gas escape passage in the packed material.

13. A retort charging machine comprising a frame, a carriage supported from the frame, a plurality of retort charging members arranged within the frame and bodily movable with said carriage, each of said members including a tubular housing having rotatably supported therein a charging element, shifting means for said carriage, operating means for said elements, means correlating with said shifting means for resisting endwise movement of said members relative to the frame and the retort during the charging operation to thereby uniformly pack the material in the retort, and means pivotally connected to and normally disposed in inactive position diametrically of the outlet end of each tubular housing and automatically shifted to a horizontal active position by the charge and thereby form a gas escape passage in the packed material.

14.*A retort charging machine comprising a mobile frame, a carriage supported from the frame and including a depending part, a plurality of retort charging members connected to said part and bodily movable with said carriage, shifting means for said carriage on said frame, means for selectively operating said members on said carriage, and means correlating with said shifting means for the carriage for resisting endwise movement of said members relative to the frame and retort during the charging operation to thereby uniformly pack the material in the retort.

THOMAS RICHARD MORRISON. 

